Not only are homemade meals healthier than what you get outside, but they’re also more cost-effective and are a chance to get your family involved.
However, it can be a challenge to find the time to prepare a healthy, tasty meal due to the busy lives most of us live today. But the fact is, you’re better off cooking your own food. Of course, you have total control over the nutrition and taste.
So, if you’ve realized the benefits of cooking your own meals at home but are still finding your way around the kitchen, here’s a guide to help you through.
1. Prioritize fruits and vegetables
You see, vegetables are highly nutritious and work well with any meal. And there’s no limit to the many ways to consume them. You can enjoy them raw, steamed, fried, roasted, or boiled along with your recipe.
Some very nutritious vegetables you want to try out include broccoli, kale, carrots, and spinach.
And then there are fruits like pineapples, avocado, and banana you can also slice and eat alongside your dish.
One great way to prepare your root veggies is by boiling them briefly before sautéing them in olive oil and garlic for 4-6 minutes.
2. Apply healthy cooking methods
One reason fast foods are ill-advised is because of the high fat and calorie content they have. That’s because fast foods are typically fried, deep-fried, or processed. Those methods add more fat and calories to your meal than is considered healthy.
So when preparing a healthy meal at home, boil, grill, bake or poach instead of frying. By avoiding oil and fat that are required to fry, you’re making your food healthier, and you have more control over the nutrients it will possess.
Grilling can be fun and add a layer of excitement to your mealtime. Get creative with your family; the most important thing is to enjoy your meal while keeping it as healthy as can be.
3. Incorporate herbs and spices
Some people don’t like spicy foods, but herbs and spices possess numerous health benefits.
Below are a few:
- Cinnamon lowers blood sugar and is anti-diabetic
- Turmeric contains curcumin, a substance known for its anti-inflammation benefits
- Ginger, known as one of the tastiest and healthiest spices, can treat indigestion, lower the risk of cancer, and improve brain function.
In fact, frequent consumption of spicy foods has been linked to a lower risk of death from cancer and heart diseases.
However, you don’t have to overwhelm the meal with herbs as the flavor can come out quickly. Sprinkling a little combination of different spices is often enough.
4. Choose healthy add-ons
Add-ons can bring your entire menu to life. With an abundance of flavor varieties and textures, add-ons and toppings can add extra color, taste, and vitamins to your meal.
But you want to stay healthy with your choices. For example, if you’re preparing homemade cookies and cakes, rather than using sugar, add zero calorie sweetener instead. This will help keep your total calorie consumption healthy while adding great taste to your meal.
You could add these natural sweeteners to anything, including coffee, for better taste while minimizing your sugar consumption.
Wrapping up
The truth is, you’ll discover that some meals can be prepared in different ways. Just figure out what works best for you and what you’re comfortable with.
Of course, you could even design your special recipe! Just be creative, stay healthy, and enjoy your creation!
Kori
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